The Boston Celtics Limited Partnership showed a profit
of $420,000 in the fiscal year ended June 30, according to
documents filed Friday with the SEC, according to Hiawatha
Bray of the BOSTON GLOBE. The partnership "had to rely on
ticket sales and promotional revenues" for income this year,
as revenues "fell" to "just under" $63M, compared to $64.8M
in '96. Former Celtics coach M.L. Carr earned $2M in salary
and bonuses, and new coach Rick Pitino received $750,000 in
salary and a deferred bonus of $600,000. Pitino will earn
$6.75M a year for the next six years, and $2M a year for
four years after that (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/27). Celtics Chair
Paul Gaston, who had earned $400,000 a year for the last
three years, was "voted a raise" to $1M last June. The team
also paid out $100,000 to a charter aircraft company called
Conanicut for business use last year. Gaston is the sole
owner and officer of Conanicut. Former Celtics Vice Chair
Dave Gavitt, who "helped broker the Pitino deal," received
$300,000 last season and is "slated to receive another
$450,000 through June 2001" (Peter May, BOSTON GLOBE, 9/27).
WHILE IN THE HUB: In Boston, Will McDonough noted the
latest ESPN Chilton Poll on the popularity of Boston teams.
The year-long survey of 330 people through the end of August
shows the Patriots at 20.9%, the Red Sox with 12.8%, the
Bruins at 7.7% and the Celtics at 7.0%. The numbers are "a
major swing" from last year, when the Red Sox led with 19.3%
of the vote. The Sox dropped 6.5% from '96, while the
Patriots moved up 6.9% from '96 (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/27).
WISHING WILFREDO WELL: The Red Sox released OF Wilfredo
Cordero "immediately" following their final game, according
to Gordon Edes of the BOSTON GLOBE. Edes writes the team's
timing left little doubt regarding their eagerness to be
linked with a player who has been booed regularly" since his
arrest on domestic abuse charges (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/29).
